The hunt for Rocktober vinyl is officially underway. Rhino is once again set to commence their annual Rocktober vinyl campaign, this time with a full slate of 27 limited edition LPs that will be spread across each Friday of the month ahead, starting on October 6. Read on to find out what comprises the complete Rocktober 2023 slate, which Friday each of those 27LPs will be coming out on respectively, if they’re coming in black and/or color LP options, and for how much apiece. . .
Rega does it yet again here in Year 50. The British company’s new Naia turntable builds upon the design legacy of their Naiad test-bed ’table from a few years back — which in turn means we now have a market-ready Naia ’table available for one and all looking to get in on having that special Rega experience firsthand. Read on to glean more about the British company’s latest and greatest, the Naia turntable. . .
A great turntable just got that much better. The ever-venerable Thorens TD 1601 turntable now features the company’s TP 160 tonearm, which was developed by the always innovative designer Helmut Thiele. Read on to see what the TP 160 arm adds to the feature set of the TD 1601 ’table, and when it’s expected to be available (and for how much). . .
Musical Fidelity’s latest offering, the M8xTT turntable, continues to uphold the British company’s decades-long rep for making great analog gear. Read on to find out more about the M8xTT’s impressive feature set, plus when this new ’table will become available — and for how much. . .
How great is it that jazz pianist Thelonious Monk’s April 1957 breakthrough album Brilliant Corners is the latest entry in Craft Recordings’ notable Small Batch series of limited-edition, definitive, all-analog, audiophile-grade releases? Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if the Small Batch 180g 1LP edition of Brilliant Corners is the right Monk fit for you. . .
Technics has just announced the next generation of their direct-drive turntables — namely, the new Grand Class SL-1200GR2 (in silver) and SL-1210GR2 (in black), both of which are meant to replace their notable SL-1200 and SL-1210GR predecessors. Read on to see what’s what with the tech updates for these two new GR2 marvels, and when they’ll be available. . .
We have so many vibrant discussions about our turntables, personal listening systems, and the music we listen to that we here at AP decided it was time to see and hear about them in much more detail. Read on to see how you can get your turntable and personal listening system featured in a new section on AP called Table Toppers. . .
The new Live at The Matrix, 1967: The Original Masters super deluxe box set that features early live recordings by The Doors as captured on the cusp of their impending, immense fame is a wonderful historic document on vinyl — and a crucial crossroads moment. Issued for the first time in as complete form as possible — and from better sources than what’s been previously available — these semi-professional recordings give us a glimpse of this legendary L.A. band just before they broke out as international music sensations. Read Mark Smotroff’s in-depth review to see if Live at The Matrix, 1967 deserves a place in your collection. . .
The diamond jubilee for Atlantic Records is officially in full vinyl swing. To celebrate accordingly, Atlantic has teamed up with Rhino Entertainment for a year-long 75th anniversary celebration that will feature 90 special LP releases, including 180g 45rpm LPs pressed at QRP by Acoustic Sounds and a first-ever label collection for VMP’s November Record of the Month. Read on to glean more about which Atlantic titles — including some albums that have never been on vinyl before, plus vintage classics and modern classics alike — are out now, as well as which LPs will be available next here in 2023. . .
It’s been just over a decade since noted specialist Japanese manufacturer Aurorasound first introduced their flagship VIDA phono preamp into the marketplace, and the current iteration, the VIDA MkII, is what’s going under the AP microscope today. Read on to get all the VIDA MkII phono preamp specs and feature details. . .